Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday issued a stern warning to Opposition MPs protesting inside the House, cautioning them against damaging government property during their agitation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in Bihar and other issues.
Addressing members amid the uproar, Birla said: “If you ask questions with the same force with which you are shouting slogans, it will benefit the people of the country. The people have not sent you to destroy government property. No member has the privilege to destroy government property, and I request and warn you against it.”
The Speaker further cautioned that continued misconduct could invite strict action.
“If you try to destroy government property, I will have to take some decisive decisions, and the people of the country will see you. Action has been taken against members for such incidents in many assemblies. I warn you again—do not try to destroy government property,” Birla said.
Following the uproar, Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till noon.
Meanwhile, INDIA bloc MPs led by leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav, Abhishek Banerjee, and Kanimozhi continued their protest against the SIR exercise in Bihar, accusing the BJP and the Election Commission of engaging in “vote chori” (vote theft).
The Opposition has been staging protests since the start of the Monsoon Session on July 21, calling the SIR exercise a case of “Silent Invisible Rigging.” The treasury benches, however, have accused them of repeatedly disrupting Parliament.
On Sunday, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s “vote theft” allegations, calling them an “insult to the Constitution,” and demanded either a signed affidavit from Gandhi or an apology to the nation.